Greetings, adventurers! Welcome to the first newsletter update on my travels. Here’s what’s new.
Carrie and I recently returned from the Netherlands and Belgium: the land of canals, cafes, and cute gabled roofs. And it was lots of fun! One of the first things we did was a food tour in Amsterdam. I was surprised how much I enjoyed all the tasty Dutch treats. As we sat by the canal eating french fries (I mean, Flemish fries) and watching the canal boats glide by, I felt that magic of traveling in Europe again.
After a few days in busy Amsterdam, we slowed things down in the town of Delft. It was like taking the old center of Amsterdam and shrinking it into a charming mini version. Ducks were swimming happily in the lazy canals, while flowers and trees seemed to pop up around every corner. We climbed the bell tower of the Niewe Kerk to take in the scene of red-tiled roofs and church spires that fanned out in every direction. (Check out the TikTok below!)
@temporaryadventurer Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Nieuwe Kerk of Delft 🙌 #netherlandstravel #delft #travel ♬ original sound – tiffanybleu7
Of Fairytales and Flanders
And from this lovely town we side-tripped to…a theme park? Well, yes, but hear me out. Efteling is a uniquely Dutch theme park, a fairytale land with family-friendly attractions and some serious thrill rides too. My favorite was Danse Macabre, a spinning dark ride that’s themed around a ghostly orchestra playing the eponymous musical piece. Spooky!
Soon it was time to catch our train into Belgium and the medieval city of Bruges. It’s one of those cities that really looks as beautiful as the Instagram photos. We went on a bicycle tour around the cobblestone bridges and spire-topped buildings, which was a great way to see this time-warp city. We took time to enjoy the finer things too, like Belgian beer. One of our highlights was visiting De Halve Maan Brewery. It’s like equal parts modern brewery and historic building right in the old town of Bruges.
And there was so much more: art museums, canal boats, walking tours, a cheese museum…I’m simultaneously proud of how much we saw in 10 days, but also wishing we had more time. It’s always a balancing act with travel.
New on the Blog
Madrid 2-Day Itinerary – Earlier this year, I went to Madrid for a long weekend. Yes, it’s possible, and you’d be surprised how much you can see in only 2 days! Read more in my post.
Roatan, Honduras – Sometimes, you just need a beach vacation. And Roatan is the perfect place to kick back for a few days of relaxing and exploring the beautiful coral reef. Read my all recommendations for planning your trip to the island.
More Museums – I’ve been trying to go more in-depth on the incredible museums I’ve visited. Check out my recent posts on the Prado Museum in Madrid and the Borghese Gallery in Rome.
Support the Blog
Did you know there’s a way to check out my favorite travel experiences and support the blog? When you book though my Viator affiliate links, I can receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These are truly some of the coolest tours I’ve ever done. And I only recommend things I’ve done personally, so you can trust that I am a fan of these experiences. Check out all my recommendations on my Viator Shop page.
Thanks for reading,
Maxim